Devil's Chair Hike (Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area)

7.5 miles - Moderate Effort
3 Hours (Total)
1,850 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 5,330 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

The unique geology on the Devil's Chair hike make it one of the most beautiful hikes in the area. The hike is in Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area, which is a transition zone between the Mojave Desert and San Gabriel Mountains. It's also on the San Andreas and Punchbowl Faults And this easy/moderate hike ends on a dramatic rock perch called the Devil's Chair, offering spectacular views of the colorful geology and fauna around you.

In this Guide:

How to Get to the Devil's Chair Hike
Turn by Turn Hike Directions & Video
Devil's Chair Hike Trail Maps

Quick Links: Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area and Nature Center - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Sep 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

There's an optional 1 mile loop trail at the end which brings you through some geological highlights of the park.

Where is the Devil's Chair?

The Devil's Chair hike is within the Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area, which is located on the eastern side of Angeles National Forest. The drive out there takes you along the Mojave and is pretty remote (and beautiful).

Leave early to beat the crowds. The Devil's Chair is featured in some non-hiker attraction lists and it can get busy.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 2 — The drive to Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area is super scenic and offers a nice photo opportunity at the entrance sign.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 3 — The parking lot is pretty big but does fill up on busy days.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 4 — There's a visitor center with limited hours located at the far end of the parking lot.

The Visitor's Center area has bathrooms and water. There are also a bunch of picnic tables around in case you want to have lunch after your hike.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 5 — The Visitor's Center also has interpretive displays outside and inside.

Gear for the Hike

Devils Chair Hike Directions 6 — The hike lies on the edge of the Mojave Desert, and it can get very hot, so plan accordingly.

I recommend regular hiking gear for this hike, although you can get away with fitness gear in a pinch too. The conditions are varied: in the winter there can be snow and ice, in the summer temperatures in the 100s. If it's cold, bring micro-spikes and trekking poles. If it's hot, bring 3L of water.

My Latest Gear Picks

Garmin inReach Mini 2 ( Amazon | REI )
HOKA Speedgoat 5 ( Men | Women )
Zpacks Sub-Nero Ultra ( Zpacks | Review )
Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ( REI | Amazon )

As a hiking guide, I test lots of hiking gear. On my picks page, I'll show you all of the gear that I actually use. I don't accept paid promotions or talk about the stuff that doesn't make the cut. It's just the gear that works best, so you don't have to waste your money.

All My September 2023 Top Gear Picks

Devil's Chair Trail Maps

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Best Smartphone Apps to Navigate: AllTrails | GaiaGPS | OnX

Devils Chair Hike Elevation — There's some up and down on the hike, but no major climbs. This is the one-way profile to the Devil's Chair.

Devils Chair Hike 3d Map — After a gradual climb, the trail follows the ridge-line around the side of the mountain. The last little section descends down to the fenced-in Devil's Chair area. Also take note of the fault-line geology in this great satellite shot.

The Fault Geology

And as I mentioned earlier, Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area is just south of the San Andrea Fault, which is where the Pacific Plate and North American Plate collide. The specific area here is called the Punchbowl Fault.

The Punchbowl fault in the Devil's Punchbowl County Park, California, provides an unequaled view of the internal structure of a large-displacement fault of the San Andreas system.- Center for Tectonophysics, Texas A&M University

What that means on the hike is that you'll see layers of sandstone that have been pushed up, past the earth's surface, and then eroded. This wall of sandstone rock forms the wall of "the punchbowl" and has been eroded by the natural forces of the Mojave and San Gabriel Mountains.

The sandstone rocks that you see pushed up have lead to the discovery of fossils from 5-10 million years ago, which is also when those rock layers were formed.

If you want an "official fault line shot" there's a sign here. The geology that you see on the hike is a result of the land being pushed up when the plates collide.

San Andreas Fault Sign — Here's a street view of the fault line sign. A good photo prop but not great for property values.

If you want to do a deep dive on the specific geology of the Punchbowl and San Andreas Faults, look no further than this guide: Field Guide to the Punchbowl Fault Zone at Devil's Punchbowl Los Angeles County Park, California

Random: If you're a fan of the band Wolfmother, they did a music video here.

Devil's Chair Hike Directions

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Devils Chair Hike Directions 8 — Here's the trailhead. Go straight here. And note that the porta-potty is not always here.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 9 — The trail is well-marked. Go straight and avoid the side trails to the picnic areas.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 10 — At the fence keep right to head towards Devi's Chair. To the left is a really nice bench and overlook at that you should check out too.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 11 — Here's the vista point to the left at the fence.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 12 — This is the view from the vista point. If you do the optional loop at the end, you'll be hiking through the area in front of you.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 13 — After taking in the vista point, head back to the right at the fence, where you'll shortly come to this trail sign. Keep hiking straight past the sign.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 14 — The trail is well worn and starts the gradual climb. You'll have some views to the north of Antelope Valley.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 15 — Keep straight at the merge with the larger trail.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 16 — Bear right at this fork.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 17 — Here's the trail junction to Burkhart Saddle. Hike to the left as the landscape transitions from desert scrub to a sub-alpine forest.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 18 — Here's a closeup of the trail sign in the last shot.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 19 — And once you hike into the fork, you'll officially be on the PCT. Or rather the Official Endangered Species Detour of the PCT designed to protect the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog. The frog is only found in these special SoCal habitats and in the Southern Sierras.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 20 — The trail goes through some pines as it descends.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 21 — You'll hike around the bend as the trail crosses Punchbowl Creek.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 22 — As you climb up from the creek the trail hugs the ridgeline of the mountain for the next stretch.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 23 — There's some man-made help on sections here that are worn. If it's winter and icy, I'd recommend micro-spikes around here. Otherwise it looks worse than it is.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 24 — You'll have some great views of the Devil's Punchbowl and fault line down to your left on this section.

Devil Chair Diretion Extra 1 — At this section, make the left to head down to Devil's Chair. The straight trail leads to some boulders and rock formations that overlook Holocomb Canyon.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 25 — Head down the steep dirt trail.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 26 — At the well-marked junction, hike to the left.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 27 — There's some up and down, as well as a fence in various states of health.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 28 — Follow the fenced-in trail down toward the vista.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 29 — And here you are, the Devil's Chair!

Devils Chair Hike Directions 30 — To get back, just hike the same way you hiked in.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 31 — If you want to do the optional Loop Trail, make the hard right at the trail board that you passed at the beginning of the hike.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 32 — The trail heads downhill.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 33 — You'll see a few benches and numbered interpretive displays on the loop trail as it winds it way through the unique geological formations.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 34 — There are trail signs but some sections split apart and come back together. Most people do this trail in the other direction from the visitor's center. It's a loop though, and you'll be fine.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 35 — If you do get confused, look for man-made features like fences and stairs. The last section climbs some stairs back to the Visitor's Center.

Devils Chair Hike Directions 36 — And here you are back at the Visitor's Center. That's the hike!

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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